Elkader is a small town in Iowa with a population of around fifteen hundred. And according to Frederique Boudouani, one of its residents, it’s the only U.S. city named after a Muslim revolutionary. Frederique, an Algerian American, and his partner, Brian Bruening, are the owners of Schera’s Restaurant and Bar in Elkader. It serves Algerian food and helps represent the small presence of Algerian culture in this Midwest state. Frederique says the way the town got its name is a fascinating story that shows just how open minded Iowans have been throughout their history.
